Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 feet, rising in the Chattahoochee National Forest along the Towns-Union county line in the northeastern corner of the state. The Cherokee called the mountain Enotah, and "Brasstown" traces to a mistranslation of the Cherokee term Itse'yĭ, meaning "New Green Place." The summit is a classic Southern Appalachian bald, with open, grassy terrain and a circular visitor center capped by a wooden observation tower. On clear days, the tower's upper deck delivers four-state views stretching into Tennessee, the Carolinas, and as far south as the Atlanta skyline, roughly 85 miles away.
The most direct route is the Brasstown Bald Summit Trail, a 0.6-mile paved path from the parking area that gains roughly 500 feet through a mossy forest of rhododendron and mountain laurel. The climb is steep but brief; a shuttle bus is also available for those who prefer not to hike. For a much longer day, the Arkaquah Trail traverses nearly 6 miles one-way along the mountain's ridge through dense laurel thickets and wildflower-filled forest, while the Jack's Knob Trail offers a roughly 3-mile approach from the north.
The summit is noticeably cooler and wetter than the surrounding valleys, receiving more than 60 inches of rain annually. Late spring brings the peak of rhododendron bloom along all the approach trails. Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms, and the exposed observation deck offers no shelter when weather moves in quickly.
